Breaking Down The Bengals Four Quarters

When asked the question when Cincinnati wins football games, look no further than the fourth quarter. During all three of their wins this year against the Browns, Bills and Jaguars, the Bengals have scored ten points in the fourth quarter with a combined score that's nearly doubling their opponents during the final period (53-27). Cardiac Cats? It's a good nickname that could stick around, especially how much they've struggled in the second quarter.

Down by four points against the Cleveland Browns, backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski completed a 41-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Green with 4:31 remaining in the game, which proved to be the game-winning score. Cincinnati was down by four points heading into the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills, beating the once undefeated team 10-3 in the fourth quarter with a game-winning 43-yard field goal as time expired.

Jacksonville took a 20-16 lead with over eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when Blaine Gabbert completed a 74-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jason Hill. Bernard Scott scored the game-winning touchdown with just under two minutes remaining to take a 23-20 lead.

But as you can also see the Cincinnati Bengals have expressively struggled in the second quarter, outscored this year by 28 points. The Bengals haven't scored a second quarter touchdown this year where as the Browns scored 14 in week one and the Bills compiled 17 second quarter points.

Perhaps if the Bengals improve their second quarter performances, the need to come-from-behind in the fourth quarter wouldn't be needed so much. But then again, isn't that why we love this year's squad so much?